Innovation and Technology

Innovation and technology thrive in the Birmingham seven-county region. The regional innovation ecosystem is supported by major assets such as the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the largest employer in Alabama with $538 million in research expenditures in 2017, Southern Research, with seven FDA-approved drugs on the market, and Innovation Depot, the largest and most successful business technology incubator in the Southeast.

Birmingham is a regional hub for health care, with 21 hospitals in the region that collectively had over 1 million patient days in 2016. It is one of the largest banking markets in the United States and is home to numerous angel and venture capital groups. It is strategically located in Southeastern U.S. – within 175 miles of Atlanta, Ga., and Nashville, Tenn.

Birmingham is also home to hundreds of technology-based companies. Some of the largest and most notable biotechnology employers in the region include Evonik, which specializes in drug delivery technologies and manufacturing for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies and employs 800 people in Alabama; Steris/IMS, a global infection prevention, decontamination and surgical and critical care company; and Oxford Pharmaceuticals, which recently opened a new drug manufacturing facility in Birmingham.

The BBA works closely with local startups to identify resources and potential funding sources needed to grow their business here. To learn more about innovation and technology in Birmingham and opportunities in funding, talent and training, contact Jon Nugent at (205) 241-8103.